Co-linear mm-wave phased array antenna with end-fire radiation pattern

ABSTRACT

A system according to one embodiment includes a plurality of phased array antennas, each of the plurality of phased array antennas comprising a plurality of antenna elements, the plurality of antenna elements configured in a linear array, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements generates an end-fire beam pattern; and driver circuitry coupled to each of the plurality of phased array antennas, the driver circuitry configured to provide a phase offset between each of the plurality of phased array antennas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/452,754, filed Mar. 15, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to millimeter wave (mm-wave) phased array antennas, and more particularly, to co-linear mm-wave phased array antennas with end-fire radiation patterns.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, notebooks, netbooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones, for example, increasingly tend to include a variety of wireless communication capabilities. The wireless communication systems used by these devices are expanding into the higher frequency ranges of the communication spectrum, such as, for example, the millimeter wave region and, in particular, the unlicensed 5-7 GHz wide spectral band at 60 GHz. This expansion to higher frequencies is driven in part by the requirement for increased data rate communications used by applications such as high definition video, for example, that require multi-gigbit data rates. Propagation losses and attenuation tend to increase at these higher frequencies, however, and it can become difficult to implement antenna systems on the device platform that provide sufficient gain to overcome these losses while providing the desired spatial coverage along the sides of the platform. This is particularly true as platform thicknesses decrease, as is the case with so-called “ultra-thin” laptops and tablets where space along the edge may be insufficient to deploy a conventional 3-dimensional antenna structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of embodiments of the claimed subject matter will become apparent as the following Detailed Description proceeds, and upon reference to the Drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a system diagram of another exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a system diagram of another exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a system block diagram of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of operations of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure.

Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, this disclosure provides systems and methods for achieving increased antenna gain and spatial coverage in the mm-wave radio frequency (RF) range, particularly along the edges of a device platform, by deploying co-linear mm-wave phased array antennas with reduced thickness. The phased array antennas may comprise taper slot antenna elements that radiate in the end-fire direction, i.e., along the axis of the slot and in the plane of the phased array antenna. The two linear phased arrays may be disposed on the top and bottom layers of a circuit board or other type of packaging. The two linear phased arrays may be fed by signals with a 180 degree phase offset to reduce cross talk interference white maintaining reduced separation between the layers. There may optionally be more than two linear phased arrays and they may be disposed on multiple layers. Deploying multiple linear phased array antennas provides for increased antenna gain. The linear phased array antennas may perform beam scanning in the end-fire direction to further increase RF spatial coverage and directional gain. The system may be configured to operate in the millimeter wave (mm-wave) region of the RF spectrum and, in particular, the 60 GHz region associated with the use of wireless personal area network (WPAN) and wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems.

In some embodiments, the co-linear phased array antennas may be operated with other phased array antennas deployed at other locations on the device platform and some or all of these antennas may optionally be integrated with a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) and a baseband integrated circuit (BBIC) an a circuit board.

The term Personal basic service set Control Point (PCP) as used herein, is defined as a station (STA) that operates as a control point of the mm-wave network.

The term access point (AP) as used herein, is defined as any entity that has STA functionality and provides access to the distribution services, via the wireless medium (WM) for associated STAs.

The term wireless network controller as used herein, is defined as a station that operates as a PCP and/or as an AP of the wireless network.

The term directional band (DBand) as used herein is defined as any frequency band wherein the Channel starting frequency is above 45 GHz.

The term DBand STA as used herein is defined as a STA whose radio transmitter is operating on a channel that is within the DBand.

The term personal basic service set (PBSS) as used herein is defined as a basic service set (BSS) which forms an ad hoc self-contained network, operates in the DBand, includes one PBSS control point (PCP), and in which access to a distribution system (DS) is not present but an intra-PBSS forwarding service is optionally present.

The term scheduled service period (SP) as used herein is scheduled by a quality of service (QoS) AP or a PCP. Scheduled SPs may start at fixed intervals of time, if desired.

The terms “traffic” and/or “traffic stream(s)” as used herein, are defined as a data flow and/or stream between wireless devices such as STAs. The term “session” as used herein is defined as state information kept or stored in a pair of stations that have an established a direct physical link (e.g., excludes forwarding); the state information may describe or define the session.

The term “wireless device” as used herein includes, for example, a device capable of wireless communication, a communication device capable of wireless communication, a communication station capable of wireless communication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wireless communication, or the like. In some embodiments, a wireless device may be or may include a peripheral device that is integrated with a computer, or a peripheral device that is attached to a computer. In some embodiments, the terms “wireless device” may optionally include a wireless service.

It should be understood that the present invention may be used in a variety of applications. Although, the present invention is not limited in this respect, the circuits and techniques disclosed herein may be used in many apparatuses such as stations of a radio system. Stations intended to be included within the scope of the present invention include, by way of example only, WLAN stations, wireless personal network (WPAN), and the like.

Types of WPLAN stations intended to be within the scope of the present invention include, although are not limited to, stations capable of operating as a multi-band stations, stations capable of operating as PCP, stations capable of operating as an SAP, stations capable of operating as DBand stations, mobile stations, access points, stations for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum signals such as, for example, Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), Complementary Code Keying (CCK), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices and systems, for example, a video device, an audio device, an audio-video (A/V) device, a Set-Top-Box (STB), a Blu-ray disc (BD) player, a BD recorder, a Digital Video Disc (DVD) player, a High Definition (HD) DVD player, a DVD recorder, a HD DVD recorder, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a broadcast HD receiver, a video source, an audio source, a video sink, an audio sink, a stereo tuner, a broadcast radio receiver, a display, a flat panel display, a Personal Media Player (PMP), a digital video camera (DVC), a digital audio player, a speaker, an audio receiver, an audio amplifier, a data source, a data sink, a Digital Still camera (DSC), a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, on off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumer device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communication station, a wireless communication device, a wireless AP, a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a wired or wireless network, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Are Network (WVAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a WLAN, a PAN, a WPAN, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing WirelessHDTM and/or Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA) specifications and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11 (IEEE 802.11-2007: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications) standards and amendments (“the IEEE 802.11 standards”), IEEE 802.16 standards, and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices which are part of the above networks, one way and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communication systems, Wireless-Display (WiDi) device, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates a GPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFID element or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver or device, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, a Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a device having one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devices or systems, a wired or wireless handheld device (e.g. BlackBerry, Palm Treo), a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types of wireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, Radio Frequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM), Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier CDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT), Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee™, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G. Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments may be used in various other devices, systems and/or networks.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with suitable limited-range or short-range wireless communication networks, for example, “piconets”, e.g., a wireless area network, a WVAN, a WPAN, and the like.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram 100 of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. Platform 102 is shown as a laptop computer, in both a closed and open position, in this illustration, but it may be any device including a notebook, notebook, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone, network hub or any device for which wireless communication capability may be desired. A co-linear phased array antenna 106 with an end-fire radiation pattern is shown to be located along the upper edge of open laptop lid 104. Alternatively, or additionally, phased array antenna 106 may be located at the rear end of the base of platform 102 as shown in the illustration of closed laptop lid 104. Phased array antenna 106 may be located at any suitable position on the platform 102, particularly along one or more of the edges, and there may be any number of such antennas. The co-linear phased array antenna 106 comprises two parallel 1×8 linear arrays. Although only the radiating edge of the co-linear phase array antenna 106 is shown in this figure, the plane of the co-linear phased array antenna 106 extends downward through the laptop lid 104 and is parallel to the plane of the laptop lid 104, in the illustration of the open laptop lid 104. The term “end-fire radiation pattern” indicates that the antenna beam pattern lies in the plane of the phased array antenna, which in this case is parallel to the plane of the laptop lid 104.

The number of co-linear phase array antennas 106 and their placement may be chosen, for example, based on RF requirements such as spatial coverage including scan directions, antenna gain and bandwidth, as well as other design and/or manufacturing considerations. In some embodiments, co-linear phased array antennas 106 may be disposed on interior surfaces or portions of platform 102.

Co-linear phased array antenna 106 may comprise a number of antenna elements 108 which may be taper-slot antennas, Yagi antennas, folded dipole antennas, bending dipole antennas, monopole antennas or any other suitable type of antenna element.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are exemplary antenna beam patterns 110 generated by co-linear phased array antenna 106. The beam patterns 110 may be scanned through directed angles to cover increased spatial areas over the edge of the platform 102. Although only one beam 110 is shown for illustrative purposes, in practice, the phased array antenna may generate a beam that is scanned or steered through many more positions by incrementally adjusting the relative phases of the antenna elements to repeatedly sweep the beam through an are of desired coverage as will be explained in greater detail below.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is an RFIC module 112 electrically coupled to co-linear phased array antenna 106 through electrical connection 114. The operation of RFIC module 112 will be explained in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram 200 of another exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows platform 102, co-linear phased array antenna 106 located along the upper edge of laptop lid 104, and RFIC module 112 as in FIG. 1. Additionally, FIG. 2 shows a single linear 1×8 phased array antenna 202 with an associated end-fire beam pattern 208 on one edge of the laptop lid 104. A second single linear 1×8 phased array antenna 204 with an associated end-fire beam pattern 210 may be located on the other edge of the laptop lid 104. A third phased array antenna 206 is also shown with a broadside radiation pattern 212. The term “broadside radiation pattern” indicates that the antenna beam pattern is directed perpendicular, or normal, to the plane of the phased array antenna. In this case phased array antenna 206 is a planar array disposed on the laptop lid 104 and is therefore parallel to the plane of the laptop lid 104 with broadside radiation pattern 212 directed perpendicularly outward from the laptop lid 104.

Phased array antennas 108, 202, 204 and 206 may all be electrically coupled to RFIC module 112. The combination of phased array antennas 108, 202, 204 and 206 may provide near onmi-directional coverage for the platform 102, i.e., front, top and side beam scanning coverage. The number of phased array antennas, as well as their location and type (broadside, end-fire, etc.), may again be chosen, for example, based on RF requirements such as spatial coverage including scan directions, antenna gain and bandwidth, as well as other design and/or manufacturing considerations.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram 300 showing another exemplary embodiment consistent with the present-disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates the co-linear phased array antenna 106 with end-fire radiation pattern comprising antenna elements 108 is greater detail. A first and second planar phased array antenna, 302 and 304 respectively, comprise antenna elements 108 arranged in a 1×10 linear pattern, although any number of elements may be used. Generally the gain of the antenna increases as the number of antenna elements increase.

Antenna elements 108 may be taper slot antennas which radiate in the end-fire direction, i.e., along the axis of the slot 308 which is in the plane of the phased array antennas 302, 304. In some embodiments, antenna elements 108 may be Yagi antennas, folded dipole antennas, bending dipole antennas, monopole antennas or any other suitable type of antenna element.

In some embodiments, the antenna elements 108 that are configured in a phased array 302, 304 may comprise dummy antenna elements 310 at some or all of the edges of the phased array 302, 304. The edge antenna elements 310 may generally be located at the end of the transmission line that couples the driver, to be discussed below, to the antenna elements 108. The dummy antenna elements 310 may be termination load resistors that reduce reflections of the RF signal at the end of the transmission line by providing termination impedance that is matched to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. This may increase the stability of the frequency and bandwidth properties of the phased array as it scans the beam through different angles.

The first and second planar phased array antennas, 302 and 304 may be stacked, one over the other, in parallel planes with a spacing 306 that, in some embodiments, may be in the range of 400 to 500 micrometers. The first and second planar phased army antennas, 302 and 304, may be electrically coupled to driver circuitry, such as RFIC 112, with a 180 degree phase offset between each antenna 302 and 304. The phase offset may increase electrical isolation and reduce crosstalk interference between the antennas 302 and 304.

Planar phased array antennas 302, 304 may be disposed on opposite sides of a printed circuit board (PCB) or other form of antenna packaging. In some embodiments, more than two planar phased array antennas may be deployed, for example to further increase gain. In such a configuration, each of the planar phased array antennas may be disposed on a given layer of a multi-layer PCB and each of the planar phased array antennas may be driven by electrically coupled signals from RFIC 112 with alternating 180 degree phase offsets for each layer to increase isolation and reduce crosstalk interference between antenna layers.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view 400 of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. Shown, are BBIC/RFIC module 402, planar phased array antennas 302, 304, circuit board 406 and signal routing layers 408, 410. BBIC/RFIC modulo 402 may be electrically coupled to signal routing layers 408, 410 through flip-chip connection points 404. Flip-chip connections, which are also known as “controlled collapse chip connections,” are a method of connecting ICs to external circuitry with solder bumps that are deposited on chip pads located on the top side of the chip. Daring the connection process, the chip is flipped onto the external circuitry such that the top side of the chip faces down and the solder pads on the chip align with the solder pads on the external circuitry. Solder may then be flowed to complete the connection.

Signal routing layer 408, 410 include electrical traces or transmission lines (not shown) coupling BBIC/RFIC module 402 to each of the antenna elements 108 of planar phased array antennas 302, 304 disposed on the circuit board 406.

In some embodiments, the circuit board 406 may employ standard PCB laminate technologies (e.g., the National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA) FR-4 standard), including low loss polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) materials, for reduced manufacturing cost. In some embodiments, for example where the platform is a mobile device, circuit board 406 may be a plug-in card including a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) express connector.

In a preferred embodiment, a single BBIC/RFIC module 402 may drive multiple phased army antennas 106, 202, 204, 206. The use of a single BBIC/RFIC module 402 may permit reduction in cost, power consumption and space consumption. The RFIC may be implemented in silicon complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (Si CMOS) technology or other suitable technologies.

FIG. 5 illustrates a system block diagram 500 of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. Shown am BBIC/RFIC module 402 and antenna elements 108, which may be configured as phased array antenna elements. The BBIC/RFIC module 402 may be a bidirectional circuit, configured to both transmit and receive. In the transmit direction, an IF signal 504 may be provided from BBIC 502. An RF carrier is generated by RF carrier generator 508 and mixed with IF signal 504 by mixer 506 to tip-convert the IF signal 504 to an RF signal. Mixer 506 may be a passive bi-directional mixer. The RF signal may be amplified by bi-directional amplifier 510 and then coupled to one or more phased array antenna systems 522 (only one shown). The phased array antenna system 522 transmits the RF signal in a scanned beam pattern, the direction of which is adjustable. To accomplish this, the RF signal is split by splitter/summer 514 and fed to a plurality of transceivers 516. Each transceiver 516 is configured with a phase shifter 518 capable of independently adjusting the phase of the split RF signal being fed to that transceiver 516. The phase shifted RF signal is further amplified by power amplifier (PA) 520 and fed to the antenna element 314 associated with the transceiver 516.

The phase shifter 518 may be under the control of phased array controller 524, which controls the amount and timing of the phase shift adjustments for each transceiver 516. By independently adjusting the phase of each of the split RF signals transmitted through each antenna element 108, a pattern of constructive and destructive interference may be generated between the antenna elements 108 that results in a beam pattern of a desired shape that can be steered to a particular direction. By varying the phase adjustments in real-time, the resultant transmit beam pattern can be scanned through a desired range of directions. In some embodiments the phased array controller 524 may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable logic or firmware.

A similar process may operate in the receive direction. Each antenna element 108 receives an RF signal which is processed by associated transceiver 516, where it is amplified by low noise amplifier (LNA) 520 and phase shifted by phase shifter 518 under control of phased array controller 524. The outputs of each transceiver 516 are summed by splitter/summer 514. Received RF signals arriving from different directions generally reach each of antenna elements 108 at different times. Phase shifting, which is equivalent to time shifting, may be employed to time align the received RF signals arriving from a particular direction while leaving received RF signals arriving from other directions unaligned. The summation of these RF signals by splitter/summer 514 results in a gain for the time aligned components associated with signals arriving from that particular direction. This results in a beam pattern gain in that direction. By varying the phase adjustments in real-time, the resultant receive beam pattern can be scanned through a desired range of directions.

The received RF signal from phased array antenna system 522 may be further amplified by bi-directional amplifier 510 and then mixed by mixer 506 with the RF carrier generated by RF carrier generator 508 to down-convert the RF signal to an output IF signal 504 which is sent to BBIC 502 for baseband processing.

In some embodiments, the system is configured to operate on RF signals in the frequency range from 57-60 GHz and IF signals in the frequency range from 11.4-13.2 GHz. Baseband signals may be in the approximate range of 2 GHz.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of operations 600 of one exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. At operation 610, a plurality of antenna elements are configured in a linear array such that the linear array is a phased array antenna and each of the plurality of antenna elements generates an end-fire beam pattern. At operation 620, a plurality of phased array antennas arc configured into a plurality of parallel layers. At operation 630, driver circuitry is coupled to each of the plurality of phased array antennas. The driver circuitry is configured to provide a phase offset between each of the plurality of phased array antennas.

Embodiments of the methods described herein may be implemented in a system that includes one or more storage mediums having stored thereon, individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by one or more processors perform the methods. Here, the processor may include, for example, a system CPU (e.g., core processor) and/or programmable circuitry. Thus, it is intended that operations according to the methods described herein may be distributed across a plurality of physical devices, such as processing structures at several different physical locations. Also, it is intended that the method operations may be performed individually or in a subcombination, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. Thus, not all of the operations of each of the flow charts need to be performed, and the present disclosure expressly intends that all subcombinations of such operations are enabled as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The storage medium may include any type of tangible medium, for example, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), compact disk rewritables (CD-RWs), digital versatile disks (DVDs) and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor devices such as read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) such as dynamic and static RAMs, erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), flash memories, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.

“Circuitry” as used in any embodiment herein, may comprise, for example, singly or in any combination, hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry, state machine circuitry, and/or firmware that stores instructions executed by programmable circuitry.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described (or portions thereof), and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such equivalents. Various features, aspects, and embodiments have been described herein. The features, aspects, and embodiments are susceptible to combination with one another as well as to variation and modification, as will be understood by those having skill in the art. The present disclosure should, therefore, be considered to encompass such combinations, variations, and modifications. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a plurality of phased array antennas, each of said plurality of phased array antennas comprising a plurality of antenna elements, said plurality of antenna elements configured in a linear array, wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements generates an end-fire beam pattern; and driver circuitry coupled to each of said plurality of phased array antennas, said driver circuitry configured to provide a phase offset between each of said plurality of phased array antennas.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured to operate in a millimeter wave frequency range.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are taper slot antennas.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of phased array antennas is disposed on one of a plurality of printed circuit board layers.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said driver circuitry further comprises a plurality of transceivers, said plurality of transceivers configured to provide independently adjustable phase delay to each of said plurality of antenna elements.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said plurality of transceivers implement phased array beam scanning by controlling said adjustable phase delay to each of said plurality of antenna elements.
 7. The system of claim 4, further comprising a broadside phased array antenna disposed on one of said plurality of printed-circuit board layers, said broadside phased array antenna coupled to said driver circuitry.
 8. A method, comprising: configuring a plurality of antenna elements in a linear array, wherein said linear array is a phased array antenna and each of said plurality of antenna dements generates an end-fire beam pattern; configuring a plurality of said phased array antennas into a plurality of parallel layers; and coupling driver circuitry to each of said plurality of phased array antennas, said driver circuitry configured to provide a phase offset between each of said plurality of phased array antennas.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring said plurality of phased array antennas and said driver circuitry to operate in a millimeter wave frequency range.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are taper slot antennas.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising disposing each of said plurality of phased array antennas on one of a plurality of printed circuit board layers.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring a plurality of transceivers associated with said driver circuitry to provide independently adjustable phase delay to each of said plurality of antenna elements.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising implementing phased array beam scanning by controlling said adjustable phase delay to each of said plurality of antenna elements.
 14. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of phased array antennas, each of said plurality of phased array antennas comprising a plurality of antenna elements, said plurality of antenna elements configured in a linear array, wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements generates an end-fire beam pattern; and driver circuitry coupled to each of said plurality of phased array antennas, said driver circuitry configured to provide a phase offset between each of said plurality of phased array antennas.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said system is configured to operate in a millimeter wave frequency range.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are taper slot antennas.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of phased array antennas is disposed on one of a plurality of printed circuit board layers.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said driver circuitry further comprises a plurality of transceivers, said plurality of transceivers configured to provide independently adjustable phase delay to each of said plurality of antenna elements.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said plurality of transceivers implement phased array beam scanning by controlling said adjustable phase delay to each of said plurality of antenna elements.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a broadside phased array antenna disposed on one of said plurality of printed circuit board layers, said broadside phased away antenna coupled to said driver circuitry. 